Collins Primary Thesaurus. Collins Dictionaries

shop

      My sister took me into her favourite coffee shop for a treat.

      snack bar

      Dad remembers when that expensive restaurant was a simple snack bar.

      teashop

      On holiday, we had tea and scones in an old-fashioned teashop.

      call (1) VERB

      If you call someone or something a particular name, that is their name.

      christen

      My mum has christened her little soft-top car William.

      name

      My parents wanted to name me Humphrey, but changed their minds.

      call (2) VERB

      If you call someone, you telephone them.

      phone

      “Dad just phoned to say he’ll be home shortly,” I told Mum.

      ring

      Lisa rang the hospital to see how her brother was doing.

      telephone

      “If you telephone between twelve and one o’clock, you’ll catch me,” the salesman said.

      call off VERB

      If something is called off, it is cancelled.

      abandon

      When the heavy rain turned to snow, the referee decided that the match should be abandoned.

      cancel

      Owing to lack of support, the dance had to be cancelled.

      postpone

      Because of building repairs, we had to postpone our bowling until Tuesday.

      calm (1) ADJECTIVE

      Someone who is calm is quiet and does not show any worry or excitement.

      composed

      Mrs Yamamoto is a very composed, businesslike woman.

      level-headed

      Sanjay is a level-headed individual who would never panic in a crisis.

      relaxed

      Cameron was so relaxed about his exam, he fell asleep on the first page.

      unflappable INFORMAL

      The lifeboat crew were selected for being unflappable as well as skilled sailors.

      ANTONYM: excitable

      calm (2) ADJECTIVE

      If the sea is calm, the water is not moving very much.

      peaceful

      The sea was peaceful as we walked along the beach in the early morning.

      quiet

      After the storm the sea became quiet again.

      still

      The lake was absolutely still, reflecting the mountains behind.

      tranquil

      It was a hot, sunny day and the children enjoyed swimming in the tranquil bay.

      ANTONYM: rough

      calm down VERB

      If you calm someone down, you help make them less upset or excited.

      quieten

      A lollipop helped to quieten the squealing toddler.

      soothe

      Some farmers turn on the radio to soothe pigs in their pens.

      cancel VERB

      If you cancel something that has been arranged, you stop it from happening.

      abandon

      The match was abandoned at half-time when the floodlights failed.

      abort

      Mission Control decided to abort the mission and bring the shuttle back.

      call off

      When I caught chickenpox, Mum and Dad called off the party.

      scrap INFORMAL

      “Let’s scrap the idea of Paris, and go to Rome instead,” Dad suggested.

      capable ADJECTIVE

      Someone who is capable is able to do something well.

      able

      My dad is an able businessman.

      accomplished

      Rajesh is an accomplished violinist.

      competent

      Sir Winston Churchill was a surprisingly competent artist.

      efficient

      Mrs Kemp was very efficient; everything was done to a tight schedule.

      skilful

      My sister is a skilful horsewoman, with several medals to her name.

      ANTONYM: incompetent

      captain NOUN

      A captain is the officer in charge of a ship or aeroplane.

      commander

      Uncertain what to do, Lieutenant Zarg called the spacecraft commander to the bridge.

      master

      The master of the oil tanker reluctantly gave the order to abandon ship.

      pilot

      “It looks as if we’re in for some turbulence,” the pilot announced.

      skipper

      Trawler skippers and their crews have to endure awful weather conditions.

      capture VERB

      If someone captures someone or something, they take them prisoner.

      arrest

      Police arrested the woman on suspicion of blackmail.

      kidnap

      The villains kidnapped the wealthy businessman’s son and held him hostage.

      nab INFORMAL

      Sergeant Philpot nabbed the burglar as he tried to make his escape.

      take captive

      After being taken captive, the explorer was imprisoned in a hut.

      ANTONYM: release

      car NOUN

      A car is a four-wheeled road vehicle with an engine and room to carry a few passengers.

      automobile

      “This motorcar,” boasted Mr Toad, “is the finest automobile ever built.”

      banger INFORMAL

      Our new teacher drives a real old banger.

      motorcar

      The sign read, “This road is unsuitable for motorcars”.

       The word vehicle can be used for a car, but also for other forms of transport, especially those with wheels.

      Some kinds of car:

      4×4 (four by four or four-wheel drive)

      convertible

      coupé

      estate car

      hatchback

      Jeep™

      Land Rover™

      limousine

      Mini™